Magic Ring and Flat Crochet Circle

Instructions

Tap a section when you finish it.

1. 1Magic ringWrap the yarn end twice around your left index and middle fingers, with the tail on the left. Insert the hook under both wraps, catch the ball yarn and pull it through, then yarn over and pull through this loop to secure it (this does not count as a stitch). Carefully slip the ring off your fingers; the doubled strand stays as a ring.
2. 2Round 1Working under the ring and the tail, make 6 sc into the ring (6 sc). Pull the tail to close the ring completely; there should be no hole. Place the marker in the first sc: we work in a continuous spiral without joining, and the marker shows the first stitch of each round. Move it up to the first stitch of each new round.
3. 3Rounds 2-4Round 2: inc in each st (12 sc). Round 3: *1 sc, inc* 6 times (18 sc). Round 4: *2 sc, inc* 6 times (24 sc). For a flat circle we add 6 stitches every round; the number of sc between increases grows by one each round.
4. 4Rounds 5-7 (staggered increases)Round 5: *1 sc, inc, 2 sc* 6 times (30 sc). Round 6: *4 sc, inc* 6 times (36 sc). Round 7: *2 sc, inc, 3 sc* 6 times (42 sc). Moving the increases to the middle of the repeat on odd rounds keeps the circle from turning into a hexagon, so the edge stays round.
5. 5Rounds 8-10Round 8: *6 sc, inc* 6 times (48 sc). Round 9: *3 sc, inc, 4 sc* 6 times (54 sc). Round 10: *8 sc, inc* 6 times (60 sc). Count the stitches at the end of every round; the circle should now be about 13 cm across.
6. 6Checking it lies flatPut the circle on the table. If the edge waves, you are working loosely or have added extra increases; count the last round and rip back if needed. If the centre rises like a bowl, you are working tightly; moving up one hook size is usually enough.
7. 7FinishingA spiral ends with a little step; to hide it, sl st into the next stitch, cut the yarn leaving 15 cm and pull it through the loop. Thread the end onto the yarn needle, pass it under both loops of the next stitch and back down into the last stitch (invisible join). Secure the magic-ring tail on the wrong side by weaving it in two different directions, then trim.